Article carrier

ABSTRACT

A basket style article carrier having full depth medial and transverse partitions is formed from a single blank and is characterized by economy in the use of material, the carrier including a bottom wall, side walls joined to the side edges of the bottom wall, end wall panels joined to the end edges of the side walls, riser panels joined to the inner edges of the end wall panels at one end of the carrier and extending medially inward of the carrier, medial panels joined to the inner edges of the end wall panels at the other end of the carrier and extending medially inward of the carrier, a multiple-ply handle including a pair of inner handle panels and a pair of outer handle panels secured at its ends to the upwardly extending ends of the riser panels and medial panels, a plurality of transverse partitions at least some of which are of a composite construction including a transverse partition tab as a component, a pair of nicks respectively connecting an outer handle panel to a transverse partition tab, a first medial partition panel foldably joined to one medial panel, and a second medial partition panel foldably joined to the same medial panel and secured to both the first medial partition panel and the riser panel at the opposite end of the carrier.

United States Patent [191 Wood [45] Nov. 4, 1975 ARTICLE CARRIERPrentice J. Wood, Jonesboro, Ga.

[73] Assignee: The Mead Corporation, Dayton,

Ohio

[22] Filed: Oct. 31, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 411,507

[75] Inventor:

[52] US. Cl. 206/187; 206/191; 229/D1G. 9 [51] Int. Cl. B65D 75/00 [58]Field of Search 206/173-189;

229/52 BC, DIG. 9

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,084,831 4/1963 Ameson206/190 3,140,797 7/1964 Ameson 229/52 BC 3,203,585 8/1965 Wood 206/1883,432,073 3/1969 Forrer 206/188 3,487,975 1/1970 Riddell 206/1863,572,544 3/1971 Forrer.. 206/187 3,572,545 3/1971 Stout.... 206/1883,669,306 6/1972 Forrer 206/188 3,672,539 6/1972 Forrer 206/1733,709,400 1/1973 Arneson... 206/187 3,722,738 3/1973 Wright 206/1873,754,680 8/1973 Wood 229/52 BC Primary ExaminerWilliam T. Dixson, Jr.Assistant ExaminerStephen Marcus Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Walter M.Rodgers 57 ABSTRACT A basket style article carrier having full depthmedial and transverse partitions is formed from a single blank and ischaracterized by economy in the use of material, the carrier including abottom wall, side walls joined to the side edges of the bottom wall, endwall panels joined to the end edges of the side walls, riser panelsjoined to the inner edges of the end wall panels at one end of thecarrier and extending medially inward of the carrier, medial panelsjoined to the inner edges of the end wall panels at the other end of thecarrier and extending medially inward of the carrier, a multiple-plyhandle including a pair of inner handle panels and a pair of outerhandle panels secured at its ends to the upwardly extending ends of theriser panels and medial panels, a plurality of transverse partitions atleast some of which are of a composite construction including atransverse partition tab as a component, a pair of nicks respectivelyconnecting an outer handle panel to a transverse partition tab, a firstmedial partition panel foldably joined to one medial panel, and a secondmedial partition panel foldably joined to the same medial panel andsecured to both the first medial partition panel and the riser panel atthe opposite end of the cam'er.

7 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures Sheet 1 of 4 US. Patent Nov. 4, 1975 Sheet 2of4 3,917,059

U.S. Patent Nov. 4, 1975 U.S. Patent Nov. 4, 1975 Sheet 3 of4 3,917,059

US. Patent Nov. 4, 1975 Sheet4 of4 3,917,059

ARTICLE CARRIER Article carriers are known in which two medial partitionpanels are utilized to separate the articles on one side of the handlefrom articles on the other side. This arrangement may not provide thenecessary longitudinal strength for the carrier particularly where thecarrier is used to package large bottles.

According to one form of this invention, a basket style article carrierhaving bottom, side and end walls, and a multiple-ply handle togetherwith a medial partition is provided with two medial partition panelsfoldably joined to one medial panel. The medial partition panels arefolded in opposite directions into a connected overlapping relationshipwith one of the medial partition panels adhered to at least one riserpanel. A transverse partition tab joined to the upper part of each sidewall by means of an anchoring flap is interconnected by a nick to theouter handle panel on the same side of the carrier.

For a better understanding of the invention reference may be had to thefollowing detailed description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings in which FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a set-upcarrier formed according to the invention with a portion of the sidewall cut away; FIG. 2 is a plan view of a blank from which the carriershown in FIG. 1 is formed and wherein dotted lines are utilized toillustrate one nesting arrangement. FIGS. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 depictintermediate stages through which the blank of FIG. 2 is manipulated inorder to form a complete and collapsed carrier as is depicted in FIG. 9.

In the drawings the numeral 1 represents a side wall of the carrier tothe bottom edge of which a glue flap 2 is foldably joined along foldline 3. End wall panel 4 is foldably joined to an end edge of side wall1 along fold line 5 while end wall panel 6 is foldably joined to theopposite end edge of side wall 1 along the fold line 7. Riser panel 8 isfoldably joined to end wall panel 4 along fold line 9 while medial panel10 is foldably joined to end wall panel 6 along fold line 11. Riserpanel 8 and medial panel 10 are formed with locking notches 8A and 10Arespectively. A transverse partition panel 13 is struck from medialpanel 10 and is foldably joined thereto along fold line 14. Anchoringflap 13A is foldably joined to transverse partition panel 13 along foldline 19. At the same end of the carrier a transverse partition panel 16is foldably joined to medial panel 10 along vertically coincidental foldlines and 17. A transverse partition tab 21 is foldably joined alongfold line 22 to anchoring flap 23 which is foldably joined to side wall1 along fold line 23A. Inner handle panel 24 is foldably joined to riserpanel 8 along fold line 9 while outer handle panel 25 is foldably joinedto medial panel 10 along fold line 11. Hand gripping apertures 26 and 27are formed in handle panels 24 and 25 respectively.

On the other side of the blank, inner handle panel 28 is foldably joinedto handle panel 24 along fold lines 29A and 29B which are disposed atthe ends of medial slit 29. Outer handle panel 30 is foldably joined toouter handle panel 25 along medial fold line 31. Hand gripping apertures32 and 33 are formed in handle panels 28 and 30 respectively.

The cell structure on the opposite side of the blank is similar to thatjust described and includes riser panel 34 which is foldably joined tohandle panel 28 along fold line 35 and which is provided with lockingnotch 39A.

Transverse partition panel 36 is struck from medial panel 45 and isfoldably joined thereto along fold line 37. Anchoring flap 36A isfoldably joined to transverse partition panel 36 along fold line 20. Endwall panel 39 is foldably joined to riser panel 34 along fold line 35and side wall 41 is foldably joined to end wall panel 39 along fold line42. End wall panel 43 is foldably joined to side wall 41 along fold line44 and medial panel 45 is foldablyjoined to end wall panel 43 along foldline 46 and to outer handle panel 30 along fold line 46. Transversepartition panel 47 is foldably joined to medial panel 45 alongvertically coincidental fold lines 38 and 48. Medial panel 45 isprovided with locking notch 45A and the lower tip of transversepartition panel 36 coincides with the bottom edge 50 of medial panel 45.i

The bottom of the carrier includes a bottom wall 54 which is foldablyjoined to side wall 41 along fold line 55 and includes a medial foldline 56.

For strengthening the carrier underneath the handle and for providingmedial separation between the articles on opposite sides of the handle,medial partition panel 57 is provided and is foldably joined to medialpanel 45 along fold line 58. Additionally medial partition panel 59 isfoldably joined to media] panel 45 along fold line 50. Transversepartition tab 60 is joined along fold line 61 to anchoring flap 62 whichis foldably joined to side wall 41 along fold line 62A.

To facilitate a smooth folding operation. nick 25A provides a connectionbetween transverse partition tab 21 and outer handle panel 25. Similarlynick 30A provides a connection between transverse partition tab 60 andouter handle panel 30.

In order to form the completed carrier from the blank shown in FIG. 2,an application of glue is first made to the anchoring flaps 23 and 62and to the adjacent portions of the side walls as shown by stippling inFIG. 2. Thereafter anchoring flaps 23 and 62 are elevated and foldedalong their respective fold lines 23A and 62A into positions of flatface contacting relation with the inner surfaces of side walls 1 and 41respectively. This folding operation of course causes the transversepartition tabs 21 and 60 to fold into generally flat face contactingrelation with their associated side walls 1 and 41. Upon completion ofthis folding operation these parts occupy the positions depicted in FIG.3 which is a fragmentary view of the center portion of the blank of FIG.2.

Thereafter an application of glue is made to the riser panels 8 and 34and to all the handle panels 24, 25, 28 and 30 as indicated by stipplingin FIG. 2. Following this application of glue, the end wall panels 4andv 39 are elevated and folded toward the right along fold lines 5 and42. Simultaneously handle panels 24 and 28 are folded along fold lines 9and 35 and when this folding operation is completed the blank appears asshown in FIG. 4 with the handle panels 24 and 28 adhered to the innersurfaces of outer handle panels 25 and 30 and with the riser panels 8and 34 secured to the inner surfaces of inner handle panels 24 and 28respectively.

With the parts in the positions shown in FIG. 4, an application of glueis made to the inner surfaces of handle panels 24, 25, 28 and 30,transverse partition tabs 21 and 60, transverse partition panels 16 and47, medial panels 10 and 45 as well as to side walls I and 41 asindicated by stippling in FIG. 4. Thereafter medial panels 10 and 45 areelevated and folded toward the left along fold lines 11 and 46respectively and when this folding operation is completed the partsappear as 3 shown in FIG. 5. The medial panels and 45 are thus securedto the handle panels 24, 25, 28 and 30. Also anchoring flaps 13A and 36Aare adhered to side walls 1 and 41 respectively and the transversepartition panels l6 and 47 are adhered to transverse partition tabs 21and 60 respectively.

With the parts in the positions depicted in FIG. 5, medial partitionpanel 57 is elevated and folded along fold line 58 into the positiondepicted in FIG. 6. Glue is then applied to medial partition panels 57and 59 and riser panel 34 as indicated by stippling in FIG. 6 and,following this, medial partition panel 59 is elevated and folded alongfold line 50 thereby becoming secured to medial partition panel 57 aswell as to riser panel 34 as seen in FIG. 7.

Thereafter the bottom panel 54 is folded along its medial fold line 56to occupy the position depicted in the fragmentary view designated asFIG. 8. Following this folding operation an application of glue is madeto the blank as shown in FIG. 7 by stippling. More specifically glue isapplied to the glue flap 2, the riser panels 8 and 34, the inner handlepanels 24 and 28, medial panels 10 and 45 and medial partition panels 57and 59. Thereafter the portions of the blank which are disposed abovethe slit 29 and the fold line 31 as viewed for example in FIG. 7 areelevated and folded into the position depicted in FIG. 9 whichrepresents the completed carrier in collapsed condition.

In order to set the carrier up from its collapsed condition shown inFIG. 9 into the setup condition shown in FIG. I, it is simply necessaryto secure the side walls 1 and 41 against movement toward the left andto apply a force toward the left to the medial edges of end wall panels6 and 43. This expands the carrier and moves the side walls apart.Simultaneously the bottom wall 54 folds into a flat plane. The carrieris maintained in setup condition by cooperation between the lockingnotches made up of notches 8A, 39A, 10A and 45A and the ends of bottomwall 54. The carrier then appears as shown in FIG. 1.

As is apparent from FIG. 2, a plurality of blanks can be arranged in anested fashion thereby providing economy of material. More specificallya pair of blanks may be arranged in side by side relation whereby theconverging edges of medial panel 10 and medial partition panel 57 arerecessed inwardly in order to accommodate the nesting of the outwardlyextending lateral protrusion of riser panel 8 of an adjoining blank.Likewise the converging edges of medial panel 45 and medial partitionpanel 57 are recessed inwardly to nest with the outwardly extendinglateral protrusion of riser panel 34 of the same adjoining blank. Inaddition bottom wall 54 is spaced apart from medial partition panel 59by a distance equal to the length of bottom wall 54. Therefore thisspace provides for the nesting of bottom wall 54 of an adjoining blank.

While the invention is shown applied to a six cell carrier havingtelescoping handles. it is not limited to such structure and may beapplied to carriers having a different number of cells and having adifferent handle structure.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. An article carrier comprising a bottom wall. side walls foldablyjoined to the side edges of said bottom wall, end wall panels foldablyjoined to the end edges of said side walls and extending inwardlytherefrom. a

multiple-ply handle comprising at least one pair of handle panels,medial partition structure including a pair of medial panels foldablyjoined respectively to said end wall panels at one end of the carrieralong the edges thereof remote from said side walls and extendingmedially inward of the carrier, riser panels foldably joinedrespectively to said end wall panels at the other end of the carrieralong the edges thereof remote from said side walls and extendingmedially inward of the carrier, a first medial partition panel struckfrom said medial partition structure and foldably joined to only, one ofsaid medial panels and folded into flat face contacting relationtherewith, a second medial partition panel foldably joined to said oneof said medial panels and affixed in flat face contacting relation tosaid first medial partition panel and one of said medial partitionpanels being secured to at least one of said riser panels.

2. A carrier according to claim 1 wherein said second medial partitionpanel is secured to at least one of said riser panels.

3. A carrier according to claim 1 wherein one medial partition panel isfoldably joined to the upper edge of said one of said medial panels andthe other medial partition panel is foldably joined to the lower edge ofsaid one of said medial panels.

4. A carrier according to claim 1 wherein said first medial partitionpanel is foldably joined to the upper edge of said one of said medialpanels and said second medial partition panel is foldably joined to thelower edge of said one of said medial panels.

5. A carrier according to claim I wherein one medial partition panel isfolded into flat face contacting relation to at least one medial paneland the other medial partition panel is folded in an opposite directionand secured to said one medial partition panel.

6. A carrier according to claim 1 wherein an anchoring flap is joined tothe upper part of a side wall, and wherein a transverse partition tab isjoined in said anchoring flap, and wherein a nick interconnects saidtransverse partition tab and said handle panel on each side of thecarrier.

7. An article carrier blank comprising a bottom wall. a first side wallfoldably joined to a side edge of said bottom wall, a first pair of endwall panels foldably joined respectively to the end edges of said firstside wall, a first riser panel foldably joined to one of said first pairof end wall panels along a first edge remote from said first side wall,a first handle panel foldably joined to said first edge, a first medialpanel foldably joined to the other of said first pair of end wall panelsalong a second edge remote from said first side wall, a second handlepanel foldably joined to said second edge, a third handle panel foldablyjoined to said first handle panel along the top edge thereof, a secondriser panel foldably joined to said third handle panel along a thirdedge, one of a second pair of end wall panelsfoldably joined to saidsecond riser panel along said third edge, a second side wall foldablyjoined to said one of a second pair of end wall panels remote from saidthird edge, the other of a second pair of end wall panels foldablyjoined to said second side wall remote from said one of a second pair ofend wall panels, a secondmedial panel foldably joined to said other of asecond pair of end wall panels along a fourth edge remote from saidsecond side wall, a fourth handle panel foldably joined to said secondhandle panel along the top edge thereof and to said second medial panelalong said fourth edge, a first medial partition panel foldably joinedto said first LII 6 and second medial panels being respectively convergent with different parts of the outer edge of said first medialpartition panel to form two recessions which are of complementaryconfiguration to said protrusions and which accommodate said protrusionsof said first riser panel and of said second riser panel of an adjoiningblank in a nested arrangement, l l l

1. An article carrier comprising a bottom wall, side walls foldablyjoined to the side edges of said bottom wall, end wall panels foldablyjoined to the end edges of said side walls and extending inwardlytherefrom, a multiple-ply handle comprising at least one pair of handlepanels, medial partition structure including a pair of medial panelsfoldably joined respectively to said end wall panels at one end of thecarrier along the edges thereof remote from said side walls andextending medially inward of the carrier, riser panels foldably joinedrespectively to said end wall panels at the other end of the carrieralong the edges thereof remote from said side walls and extendingmedially inward of the carrier, a first medial partition panel struckfrom said medial partition structure and foldably joined to only one ofsaid medial panels and folded into flat face contacting relationtherewith, a second medial partition panel foldably joined to said oneof said medial panels and affixed in flat face contacting relation tosaid first medial partition panel and one of said medial partitionpanels being secured to at least one of said riser panels.
 2. A carrieraccording to claim 1 wherein said second medial partition panel issecured to at least one of said riser panels.
 3. A carrier according toclaim 1 wherein one medial partition panel is foldably joined to theupper edge of said one of said medial panels and the other medialpartition panel is foldably joined to the lower edge of said one of saidmedial panels.
 4. A carrier according to claim 1 wherein said firstmedial partition panel is foldably joined to the upper edge of said oneof said medial panels and said second medial partition panel is foldablyjoined to the lower edge of said one of said medial panels.
 5. A carrieraccording to claim 1 wherein one medial partition panel is folded intoflat face contacting relation to at least one medial panel and the othermedial partition panel is folded in an opposite direction and secured tosaid one medial partition panel.
 6. A carrier according to claim 1wherein an anchoring flap is joined to the upper part of a side wall,and wherein a transverse partition tab is joined in said anchoring flap,and wherein a nick interconnects said transverse partition tab and saidhandle panel on each side of the carrier.
 7. An article carrier blankcomprising a bottom wall, a first side wall foldably joined to a sideedge of said bottom wall, a first pair of end wall panels foldablyjoined respectively to the end edges of said first side wall, a firstriser panel foldably joined to one of said first pair of end wall panelsalong a first edge remote from said first side wall, a first handlepanel foldably joined to said first edge, a first medial panel foldablyjoined to the other of said first pair of end wall panels along a secondedge remote from said first side wall, a second handle panel foldablyjoined to said second edge, a third handle panel foldably joined to saidfirst handle panel along the top edge thereof, a second riser panelfoldably joined to said third handle panel along a third edge, one of asecond pair of end wall panels foldably joined to said second riserpanel along said third edge, a second side wall foldably joined to saidone of a second pair of end wall panels remote from said third edge, theother of a second pair of end wall panels foldably joined to said secondside wall remote from said one of a second pair of end wall panels, asecond medial paNel foldably joined to said other of a second pair ofend wall panels along a fourth edge remote from said second side wall, afourth handle panel foldably joined to said second handle panel alongthe top edge thereof and to said second medial panel along said fourthedge, a first medial partition panel foldably joined to said firstmedial panel, a second medial partition panel foldably joined to saidfirst medial panel remote from said first medial partition panel, saidbottom wall and said second medial partition panel being spaced apart adistance equal to the length of said bottom wall to form a recessionwhich accommodates the nesting of the bottom wall of an adjoining blank,and a pair of outwardly extending lateral protrusions formed on saidriser panels respectively, parts of the outer edges of said first andsecond medial panels being respectively convergent with different partsof the outer edge of said first medial partition panel to form tworecessions which are of complementary configuration to said protrusionsand which accommodate said protrusions of said first riser panel and ofsaid second riser panel of an adjoining blank in a nested arrangement.